Bathing suit and similar sport garment



May 9, 1933. J ENTRAYGUES 1,908,591

BATHING SUIT AND SIMILAR SPORT GARMENT Original Filed June 11, 1930 I I Allomeys.

Patented May 9, 1933 PATENT OFFICE JULES PIERRE ENTRAYGUES, F PARIS, FRANCE BATHING SUIT AND SIMILAR SPORT GARMENT Original application filed June 11, 1930, Serial No. 460,425. Divided and this application filed March? 27,

1931, Serial No. 525,840, and in France June 22; 1929.

My invention relates to improvements in bathing suits and other similar garments.

In my parent application Ser. No. 460,425, filed June 11, 1930, of which the present application is a division, I have set forth the disadvantages of ordinary bathing suits and similar garments, and I have described a new type of garment adapted to obviate this drawback. Briefly stated, these disadvantages are the following: Due to the necessity of ensuring ease of movements for the swimmer or other sportman, the collar and arm holes have to be out very wide and the garment is accordingly apt to slide from the shoulders.

Furthermore, the bathing suits actually in use are not adapted to support the breasts of rather stout women. And finally these bathing suits cover the part of the back or shoulders that it is most desirable to submit to sun bathing.

According to the present invention, the shoulder straps are normally connected to the front part of the garment, but in the back they are connected, through a band of suitable material, to the upper edge of the garment in the middle part thereof, so that, whatever be the surface of the part of the back of the swimmer that is left uncovered for sun bathing, the shoulder straps form a V on the upper part of his back and bear on his shoulders near the base of his neck.

In order to facilitate the connection of the band to which are secured the shoulder straps with the back part of the garment, the latter is preferably so cut as to constitute a more or less accentuated median point along the spinal column, to which point is secured the band.

The straps are preferably made of an elas- 49 tic fabric which adapts itself to the movements of the bather.

These two combined features give the following advantageous results: On the one hand the tapering shape of the back part of the garment makes it easier to cut out the cloth under the armsso as toprevent' any hinderance for the swimmer. On the other hand, the shoulder straps can no longer'slip from the shoulders sincethey are applied. against the-base of the neck owing to their be- 50 ing connected to the upper end of the-band or strap secured to the dorsal point ofthegarment, which is particularly advantageous when the garment is very-widely cutout in the back. Owing to these-features, the muscles andarticulations of the swimmers shoulders are given complete freedom so as not to hinder his movements. Furthermore, the swimmer is no longer compelled to remove the upper part of hisgarment when he wishes to take a dorsalsun bath, since the cut of saidgarment leaves the'dorsal pulmonary regions'normally uncovered.

These improvements are applicable to both mens and womens bathing suits, but in the case of stout women an improvement consists in the adj unction of an elastic band extending across the backand connecting, at the level of the breasts, the edges of the frontpart-of the garment, which are so cut as to present points at this place in order to better envelop the breast and to makethe garment act as a supporting bandeau. This elastic band is very efficacious in supporting the breast without hindering the movements of the swimmer.

Preferred embodiments of'my invention Will be hereinafter described with reference to the appended drawing given. merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 shows a bathing suit for men, seen from behind;

Fig; 2 is a corresponding view, showing a bathing suit for women;

Fig. 3 is a front view ofthe bathing suit accordingto the embodiment of Fig. 1.

The frontpart of the bathing suit (Fig. 3)" is out according to the usual fashion in 1, leaving the throat and neck quite free, and presenting two pointed parts 2 which are placed substantially at the level of the shoulder articulations.

In the back, the bathing suits are provided with a fixation strap or band 10, which is secured to the middle part of the upper edge of the garment. Said part may for instance form a point 3, so as to leave uncovered the pulmonary dorsal regions. The mens bathing suit is thus widely cut out under the arms (Fig. 1) and therefore affords complete freedom of movements, although the garment cannot slip from the shoulders.

The womens bathing suit shown in Fig. 2 is analogous to the embodiment of Fig. 1, but it is further adapted to support the breasts of stout women. For this purpose, each edge 4 of the back part presents, under thearms, and at the level of the breasts, a point 6. A strap 7 serves to connect said points together. Said strap 7 may be connected or not to fixation strap 10, which is disposed as in the above described embodiment. Strap 7 is preferably made of an elastic rubber fabric. It thus affords a firm but resilient support for the breasts, the part 8 each arm, a fixation strap secured to said median point, shoulder straps secured, on the one hand, each to one side of said front part ofthe garment, and, on the other hand, both to the upper end of said fixation strap, and bands for connecting said points under the arms to said fixation strap.

3. A ladys tight fitting sporting and bathing garment according to claim 2 in which said bands are fixed to said fixation strap at the point at which said shoulder straps are also secured to said fixation strap.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

J ULES PIERRE I ENTRAYGUES.

of the swimming suit acting as a supporting .bandeau.

In both embodiments, shoulder straps 9 are secured in the usual manner to points 2 of the front part of thegarment. In the back, said shoulder straps are both secured to fixation strap 10 connected'to the middle part of the upper edge of the back of the gar ment. It will be readily understood that the presence of thisstrap 10 makes it possible to have a bathing suit that is very'widely cut out in the back without it being necessary to have very long shoulder straps which could not be properly applied on the shoulders and would easily slip out of position.

Obviously, the more or less accentuated shape of the front and back edges of the bathing suit or other garment of the same kind could be modified, together with other details without departing from the principle of my invention as comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

- What I claim is:

1. A tight fitting sporting and bathing garment made of an elastic textile fabric, comprising a normally cutupper front part, a widely cut out back part, a fixation strap secured to the middle part of the upper edge of said back part, shoulder straps secured, on the one hand each to one side of the front part of the garment, and on the other hand, both to the upper end of said fixation strap, said back part forming a point under each arm, and bands for connecting said points to said fixation strap. 1

2. A ladys tight fitting sporting and bathing garment made of an elastic textile fabric, comprising in combination, a normally cut ,upper front part, a widely cut out back part presenting a median point and a point under 

